Valve and operating mechanism therefor



April 1, 1950 w. T. CALDWELL 2,503,469

VALVE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed March 19, 1942 2heets-Sheet 1 25 4 6/ 58 20 .50 57 55 47 446? 5:9 59 6/ 49 57 Q g 62 4863 as 6? a V4 24 2a /6 39 IN V EN TOR.

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April 1950 w. T. CALDWELL I 2,503,469 vALvE AND OPERATING MECHANISMTHEREFOR INVEN TOR. /I/fer ZKa/d/re/Z AT TORNE Y6 Patented Apr. 11, 1950VALVE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Walter T. Caldwell, Enid, Okla,as'signor, by

mesne assignments, to v alve Engineering Company, Enid, Okla., acorporation of Oklahoma Original application March 19, 1942, Serial No.435,305. Divided and this application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,264

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) This invention relates to valves of the typeusually known as gate valves, and this application is a division of mycopending application on Valve and operating mechanism therefor, filedMarch 19, 1942, under Serial No. 435,305 and which has since maturedinto Patent No. 2,386,589, dated October 9, 1945.

Gate valves usually consist of a body having a through passage for flowof fluid which is intercepted by a valving member consisting of awedge-shaped disk or gate adapted to move transversely to and fromwedging contact with opposed seating faces surrounding the flow passage.The seating faces are usually provided on ring inserts of bronze orother material to assure a leak-tight fit when the gate is closed. Withthis construction considerably more power is needed to unseat the valvethan is required to complete the opening movement and effect subsequentclosure thereof. Consequently it has been the practice to provide suchvalves with motive power sufficient to eifect unseating of the gate andwhich power is applied throughout the opening and closing movement withthe result that the valve is slow acting and the gate is driven intowedging contact with the seating faces with the same power necessary toeffect the starting movement. If sufficient power is provided for higherspeed operation the cost of operation increases and the surplus powerover that required to complete the opening movement is destructive tothe valve, particularly the seat rings thereof, for the reason that thegate is wedged too tightly and the seating faces gall and spring out ofshape after a few operations so that the valve begins to leak.

It is, therefore, the principal purpose of the present invention toprovide valves of this character with quick-acting mechanisms requiringrelatively low operating power and which act in conjunction with aleverage connection with the gate to furnish suflicient starting powerfor unseating the gate and then quickly opening and closing the gate ata relatively high speed, thereby avoiding excessive wedging of the gatebetween its seating faces.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a power actuatingmechanism adapted for eflicient and simple remote control; to provide apower mechanism whereby movement of the valve is under control of theoperator; to provide an actuating mechanism capable of application toany standard valve to form a compact unit without materially, increasingthe over-height of the valve; to provide an operating mechanism wherebythe motive forces are applied directly at the valve; and to provide anoperating mechanism capable of actuation while submerged in fluids andrelatively inaccessible places.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a valve equipped with an operatingmechanism embodying the features of the present invention, the hydraulicpiping and control valve being illustrated somewhat diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve and operating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the power increasing levers and thevalve stem and piston rod connections shown indisassembled spaced relation to better illustrate the construction thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectionthrough the valve showing the parts in valve closing position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in open position of thevalve.-

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a valve of the gate type and which includes a body 2having. a flow passageway 3 therethrough intercepted by a transversegatereceiving recess 4 extending upwardly into a laterally extendingneck 5 of the valve body and which has opposite sides thereof providedwith- The valve body is provided with seat rings "i encircling the flowpassage on opposite The seat rings are disguides 6.

sides of the gate recess. posed in the valve body so that the seatingfaces 8 thereof are located in planes converging down Wardly to form awedge contact with correspond ingly disposed faces 9 on the gate orvalving member ID, as in customary gate valve construction.

the ends thereof with suitable means such as flanges H for connectingthe valve into a pipe line (not shown) to selectively shut off How offluid therethrough. The neck 5 of the valve bodyis provided with alaterally extending annular flange l2 seating a similar flange l3 on avalve bonnet it that closes the open top of the gatereceiving recess andwhich is secured in position portion l6, carrying horizontally extendingarms I! and I8 projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the valve body,for a purpose later described. F The neck portion I6 is provided with abore IS The body member of the valve is provided at terminal end thereofis provided with threads for a purpose later described. Upon recipro'cation of the stem, the gate is movedto andfrom closed position onguides Bengagingin suitable.

grooves at the side of the gate. Theguidesthus:

prevent slapping of the valve against the seating faces under flow ofhigh pressure fluidthrougli the valve while the valve is being opened"and" closed. v

The valve thus far described is illustrative of any standard gate valveand specifically forms no. part of the present. invention, the.invention beingto provide the valve-with agate actuating mechanism, asnow to be described.

Carriedby the. ends: of. the arms H. and I8 and depending therefromalong sides. of the valve body 2 are cylinders 21 and28havingwtheirlower endsclosed by heads 29. The upper ends of the cylinders. areclosed by, similar heads 3ilihaving, openings 31 therein for slidablysupporting piston rods 32- and 33 for. the respective cylinders. Theheads 38 also have counterbores-34 containing packing elements 35 that.are retained in sealing contact with the piston rods. by glands 38-threaded into the counterbores as shown in Fig. 4.

Mounted on the lower ends of the rods and slidable, in thecylindersvbetween lateral ports 3.1-3Band 39-49 arepistons- 4'1 and. 42.The upper. ends of the piston rodsareprovidedewith heads 43 having pins44 fittedtherein to pivotally mount the yoke-shaped ends 45 of leverarms-46 and 47, the lever.arm=46. being connected with the piston rod32and1thelever 4Lwith the piston rod 33. The pins 44' have their endsprojecting into elongated. openings 48 in the ears 49; and 50 of theyoke-shapedheads ofthe. levers so as to provide free reciprocatorymovement of the pistonrodswhen the levers. are rocked on pivot pins. 5|and; 52 that project laterally from a. sleeve member 53;. The. sleevemember. 53 has a: vertical axialibore- 54 for passing. the threaded.end; of the; valve stem there-- through and is adjustablypositionedonthestem: byqnuts 55 and 56threaded.on;the rod2 and en-.- gaging the:respective. ends; of. the. sleeve member; 53:. The. pivot'i pins 51 and52; extend through openings 5'! in therespective leversssothatthelevers. are pivotally connectedzwith the stem; and; to move therewithwhen the pistons are recipro1-- cated in their respective. cylinders.

In: order to limit. the extent of. pivotalmove-- ment of each'lever thelevers have taill portions 58 engageable between. spaced lugs. 59 andELL projecting laterally from. the other: lever: at. a. point betweenthe valve stem and the. yokeshapedzhead thereof, the space BI: betweenthe lugs: being sufii'cient to allow limited pivotal. movement of. the.levers. onrtlie. pivot: pins when thepistons reach the limits oftheirstrokessand. change direction Fluid: is admitted; to: the upper. ports31: and" 39 froma source: of supply by way'ofa duct62 having connection:with anportit 63' in the casingof a four-way valve-64.v Eluid isadmitted to the lower. ports: 38; andr40: of; the cylinders throughazsimilar; duct SEt-having con-- 4 nection with a port 66 of thefour-way valve 64. Fluid under pressure is alternately admitted to therespective ducts 62 and from a supply pipe 6'! connected with a suitablesource of pressure supply and liquidis alternately exhausted fromthe-respective: ends of. the= cylinders: through a. return pipe 68, thepipes 61 and 68 being connected with ports 69 and 10 of the four-wayvalve. Flow through the four-way valve is controlled-by a rotatable coreH, having channels 12and 13 therein adapted to connect the pipe 61 withthe duct G2.when the pipe 68 is connected with-the duct 65, and toconnect the pipe 61 with theduct 65:when the pipe 68 is connected withthe duct 62.

Projecting" upwardly from the plate portion IT of'tlie valve bonnet, onopposite diametrical sides of the packing gland, are lugs 14 and 15, theends: of which form seats or fulcrums 16 adapted to be engagedxby thetail portions 58 ofithe respective-leverszwhen .the levers are movedupwardly by'the pistons toefiect opening ofthe. gate. As soon'as: theleversenease the fulcrum.- lfithe liftingforce of. the pressurefiuid issupplementedby andncreased leverage: in: an amount: accordingto therelative length .of. the lever arms from the fulcrum. points, to thepivot pins; 44' andthe length fromathefulcrum points to. the pivot.pins5l and52.. Thus on theinitialvupwardmovement ofthe pistonsasubstantiallyr; greater force is applied. to the gate toeffect-unseating; thereof, butassoon as the. gateunseats-theta-il.portions of the: levers engage-the lowen lugs..60- which limit furthenpivotal movement thereof! and; consequently both. levers are. moved. upewardly, as aunit'to efiect quickopening. of the gate. During pivotalmovement of the.- levers, the elongated openings 48. in the ears.v of.the: levers allow freedom of movement without bindinggof: thepiston-rods 32 and 33, in thepacking.

glands. 36. When the pistons 44.- and- 42 reach; the upper. limit. oftheir stroke; the gate.- is Y open,- and the=parts-of the operating.mechanism are; insthe positionshown'in Fig. 5:.

When. pressure. fluid is. admitted to the: upper 7 ends; of. the.cylinders 2:1 and. 28;.thev first mover ment of the pistons 41' and;42:.rocks the. outer endsofatheilevers 24:6 and .41 downwardly, tobring: the tail. portions;58.-thereof. againstthe upper: lugs; 59 sothat. further downward; movement effects: movement of:both..levers:assaunit. It: is=obvi;-

ous: that the; seating; force: applied to. the.- gate.isionly'that'ieffectecbby the pressureaof'. the fluid admitted. into.the: upper. ends: of the: cylinders; but; when.v the. fluidpressure isadmitted; into'- the lower ends ofithe cylinders therlevers exert a.multiplied force on. the" gate to effect" unseating thereof,.after1which the force; lifting the valve' is; only that :eff ectedzbyvthepressure :medium act ing onathespistons'. When'.'fluid'isbeing admitted. to one endof thecylinders; thefluid in theopposite endsis displaced through the other connec'- tion: oh the four-way" valve andreturned to the' source-of: supply as will'be clearly obvious on in--spection of Fig.1.

From the foregoing it is obvious=that' I haveprovided apoweractuatedmechanism for gate valves whereby the motive force need" beonly thatrequired to lift the gate underpressureoi the fluid flowing through. thevalve a'nd: that-the initial 'unseating: force: is effected: through a,lev'- erage' mechanism: thereby furnishing suffi'ci'ent power to-effe'ctunseating'of the' gate'aiter which force. of the. pressure". mediumalone.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 7

1. In an apparatus of the-character described, a supporting body, anaxially reciprocable stem in said bodyga pair of levers, means pivotallymounting the levers on the stem, a lost motion connection between saidlevers, cylinders at sides of said body, pistons in the cylinders, rodsconnecting the pistons with the levers, fulcrums carried on said bodyand engageable by said levers to exert a leverage-on said stem, andmeans for supplying a pressure medium to the cylinders for acting'onsaid pistons.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting body, anaxiall reciprocable stem in said body, a pair of levers, meanspivotal-1y mounting the levers on opposite sides of said stem, stops onone lever having engagement with the other lever to provide a limitedrelative movement between the levers, cylinders at the sides of saidbody, pistons in the cylinders, rods connecting the pistons with thelevers, fulcrums carried by the supporting body and engageable by saidlevers to exert a prying force to move the stem in one direction, andmeans for supplying a pressure medium to the cylinders for acting onsaid pistons.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of asupporting body, an axially reciprocable stem carried by said body, atrunnion member on the stem, trunnions projecting from opposite sides ofsaid member, levers pivoted on the trunnions, a lost motion connectionbetween said levers, cylinders at the sides of said body, pistons in thecylinders, rods connecting the pistons with the levers, fulcrums carriedon said body and engageable by said levers to exert a leverage to effectmovement of the stem, and means for supplying a pressure medium to thecylinders for acting on said pistons.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of asupporting body, a stem axially reciprocable with respect to said body,a trunnion member on the stem, trunnions projecting from opposite sidesof said member, levers pivoted on the trunnions, stops on one leverhaving engagement with the other to provide a limited relative movementbetween the levers, pistons in the cylinders, rods connecting thepistons with the levers, fulcrums carried on said body and engageable bysaid levers to exert a prying force on said stem in the direction ofmovement of said stem, and means for supplying a pressure medium to thecylinders for acting on said pistons.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of asupporting body, a stem axially reciprocable with respect to said body,a trunnion member on the stem, trunnions projecting from opposite sidesof said trunnion member, levers pivoted on the trunnions, cylinders atsides of said supporting body, pistons in the cylinders, rods connectingthe pistons with the levers, fulcrums Carried on said supporting bodyand engageable by said levers to exert a prying force on the stem in onedirection of movement of said stem, and means for supplying a pressuremedium to the cylinders for acting on said pistons.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of acylinder support, a stem axially reciprocable through the cylindersupport, a trunnion member on the stem, trunnions projecting fromopposite sides of said trunnion member, levers pivoted on the trunnions,a lost motion connection between said levers, cylinders depending fromthe cylinder support on opposite sides of the stem, pistons in thecylinders, rods connecting the, pistons with the levers, fulcrumscarried by the cylinderrsupport and engageable by said levers to exert aprying force'on the stem.

levers having ends connected with said rods, ful-,.

crums on the cylinder support adapted to be, engaged by said levers, alost motion connection between said levers, and means for pivotallyconnecting the levers with the reciprocable member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of asupporting body, a stem axially reciprocable with respect to saidsupporting body, a trunnion "member on the stem, levers pivotedintermediately of their ends on the trunnion member at opposite sides ofthe stem, spaced stops on one end of each lever having engagement withupper and lower edges of the opposite end of the other lever to providea limited relative movement between the levers, pistons in thecylinders, rods connecting the pistons with said opposite ends of thelevers, fulcrums carried by the supporting body and engageable with theends of said levers having the stops to exert a prying force on the stemfor starting movement of the stem, and means for supplying a pressuremedium to the cylinders for acting on said pistons.

9. An actuating unit for a reciprocable member, including a trunnionmember for attachment on the reciprocable member, trunnions projectingfrom opposite sides of said trunnion member, levers pivoted on thetrunnions, a lost motion connection between said levers, cylinders,means for supporting the cylinders at opposite sides of the reciprocablemember, pistons in the cylinders, rods connecting the pistons with thelevers, iulcrums carried by the cylinder supporting means and engageableby said levers to exert leverage to eifect movement of the reciprocablemember in one direction, and means for supplying a pressure medium tothe cylinders for acting on said pistons.

10. An actuating unit for a reciprocable member, a trunnion member forattachment to the reciprocable member, levers pivoted on the trunnionmember at opposite sides thereof, a lost motion connection between saidlevers, cylinders, means for supporting the cylinders at opposite sidesof the reciprocable member, pistons in the cylinders, rods connectingthe pistons with the levers, fulorums carried by the cylinder supportand engageable by said levers to exert a prying force on thereciprocable member when the reciprocable member is moved in onedirection, and means for supplying a pressure medium to the cylindersfor acting on said pistons.

11. An operating unit including a bonnet adapted for attachment to agate valve, a stem axially reciprocable in the bonnet, a trunnion memberadapted for connection with the stem, levers pivoted on opposite sidesof the trunnion member, a lost motion connection between said levers,cylinders suspended from opposite sides of the bonnet, pistons in thecylinders, rods connecting the pistons with the levers, fulcrums carriedby the bonnet and engageable by said levers to exert a prying force onthe stem to eiTect starting movement of the stem in one direction, andmeans for supplying a pressure medium to the cylinders for acting onsaid pistons.

11?: An: operating iixiim for: aagateEV'a'Ive; imflud ing: 8;. bnnnet'g.a stem axiallwreciprocablin". thebonnet: a..p1ate:.-1ika:supportcarriedz onzthea hon;- net; a1 tmnniom member;-adapted:. to. be; attached; t0 :theastem', levers pivoted 011113116}trunnion" member, a 10st motion connection betweenzsaidzlevers';cylinders. suspended from: the platelike. support at: the; sides: of:the-2 bonnet; pistons im the: cylinr' ders; .rods: connectingtheapistbnsawithlthezleversg fulcnums projecting-' from. the:plate;-1ike: support {I and engagea'blebysaid levers to exert. a;prying, forces to effect starting; movement of? thes stem intonedirection; anmmezmsion supp1yingsa.pres*-.

RE ER N E I ED The; following: reierences; are ofv recordi in the file:of this patent:

SIA'IE AmT 1- Numbeya Han Date 3.5fm D i tmle. --v---.--E p- .1

2,386,589. Caldwell Qc$;; 9,1955;

